Washington, D.C. – Statement By Safari Club International President Craig Kauffman “Safari Club International’s advocacy team is alerting the international conservation community that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is expected to soon announce a new policy to reject all elephant ivory imports from Zimbabwe and Tanzania. It is unknown precisely when the decision by the U.S. FWS will occur, but SCI will do everything in its power to fight this reckless decision that has no basis in law, science, or conservation policy.
“International hunters are the first line of defense for conservation, management, and anti-poaching throughout Africa. When wildlife has no value, it will most certainly be slaughtered indiscriminately. In 2003 trophy hunting generated $12 billion Zimbabwe dollars and accounted for approximately 60-90% of all revenues for that country’s Department of National Parks and Wildlife Management.
SCI’s members have purchased bull elephant tags to benefit the CAMPFIRE Foundation in Zimbabwe who conduct anti-poaching work throughout the communal lands of their country. SCI’s members have paid more than $100,000 to support elephant conservation from 2012-2014, whereas the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has spent only $56,000 to protect Zimbabwe’s elephants from 2011-2013 through the Multinational Species Conservation Grants.
“Safari Club does not know all the details of the upcoming announcement by U.S. FWS to halt importations of elephant ivory from these two countries, but we do know the announcement could come soon. SCI’s Washington team will do everything within our power to fight back against this misguided and baseless policy.”
